Job Title: Group People Manager
Location: UK (multi-site, travel required)
Reports to: CEO / Group Managing Director
Direct Reports: HR Business Partners, Talent, L&D, Recruitment, HR Ops
Role Purpose
To lead and deliver a high-performing, scalable people function that supports rapid growth across a regulated Supported Living and Children's Services group. You will ensure the workforce strategy is effectively implemented to enable safe, compliant, and high-quality care delivery under CQC and Ofsted frameworks-without slowing down growth.
This is a delivery-focused role. It requires hands‑on leadership to scale teams quickly, resolve workforce challenges, and maintain regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities
1. People Strategy & Growth
Support the development and lead the execution of a group-wide people plan aligned to growth (new homes, acquisitions, service lines).
Deliver workforce planning to ensure staffing keeps pace with occupancy and regulatory requirements.
Implement scalable hiring, onboarding, and retention processes across multiple regions.
2. Recruitment & Workforce Scaling
Lead the delivery of end-to-end recruitment across high-volume care roles and key leadership positions.
Drive improvements in time-to-hire and reduce reliance on agency staffing.
Build and maintain talent pipelines for Registered Managers, Deputies, and frontline teams.
Ensure all recruitment activity meets safe recruitment standards (DBS, references, right to work).
3. Compliance (CQC & Ofsted)
Ensure HR practices are aligned to regulatory standards and support inspection readiness.
Work closely with Operations to maintain compliant staffing levels, training, and supervision.
Support responses to workforce-related inspection findings and action plans.
Maintain accurate, audit-ready workforce documentation across all services.
4. Employee Relations & Culture
Manage complex ER cases including safeguarding, disciplinaries, and whistleblowing.
Support a performance-led culture, addressing underperformance effectively and consistently.
Implement initiatives to reduce absence, turnover, and burnout.
Embed values and behaviours that support high-quality, accountable care delivery.
5. Learning & Development
Deliver training frameworks aligned to CQC/Ofsted requirements (mandatory and developmental).
Support the development of leadership capability across Registered Managers and senior teams.
Implement progression pathways to improve retention and internal mobility.
6. HR Operations & Systems
Ensure consistent HR processes across the group (contracts, policies, payroll interface).
Support the implementation and optimisation of HR systems for scale and reporting.
Maintain accuracy and visibility of workforce data and metrics.
7. M&A and Integration
Support people due diligence activity during acquisitions.
Assist with the integration of new services, ensuring continuity of compliance and culture.
Align workforce structures, policies, and terms post-acquisition.
8. Leadership & Influence
Act as a key operational partner to senior leaders across the group.
Provide practical, data-led insight on workforce performance.
Challenge and support operational teams where workforce practices impact quality or compliance.
Key Metrics / KPIs
* Staff turnover rate
* Time-to-hire
* Agency usage reduction
* Compliance audit scores
* Training completion rates
* Employee engagement
* Inspection outcomes (people-related areas)
Experience Required
* Proven experience in a senior HR / People Manager role within a multi-site environment
* Strong background in Health & Social Care, Supported Living, or Children's Services
* Working knowledge of CQC and/or Ofsted frameworks
* Experience supporting rapid growth (organic or acquisitions)
* Track record of improving retention and stabilising workforce challenges
* Experience managing complex employee relations cases
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